Busan, the city of Festivals!

2016 Busan Festival Information

Busan is the second largest city behind Seoul in South Korea and full of diverse festivals about art, film, music and cultural events. Also, the city is famous for beautiful beaches, fish markets and natural scenery. Do not hesitate to join these special experiences that you should not miss! Let’s make your amazing itinerary with this festival in Busan 🙂

Winter

Polar bear swimming contest

Just like the polar bear that enjoys swimming in cold, icy Arctic Ocean, this is an official swimming competition where we can enjoy swimming in cold weather. This competition provides an opportunity to make an exciting memory for the participants while presenting their health and beauty. For the tourists, this is a unique festival which provides many attractions of winter sea in Korea.

– Application Fee : ￦20,000 per person

Drone show Korea 2016

A drone can be utilized in various fields (disaster relief, agriculture, construction, energy, utilities, marine plants, construction, cultural heritage protection, news media, and film production). Also, South Korea is currently ranked 7th among the world’s leading countries in the UAV sphere.

Issues needed to be solved(privacy, safety regulations, and frequency-overlapping, etc.) coexist with the rapid growth of the market. In this regard, Drone Show Korea will present the best opportunity for drone business networking. And It surely creates momentum for drone ecosystem. With a number of globally renowned speakers, experts in the industry will be gathering in Drone Show Korea to discuss the future of the Drone industry.

Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival

Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival is celebrated on the first full moon of the Korean lunar calendar. The purpose of this holiday is the believers pray for a lucky and healthy year.
On the opening evening of the festival, an impressive ceremony is held : the burn of daljipa wooden structure built every year on major beaches in Busan such as Haeundae, Gwanganli, Songdo beach. It means moon’s home which absorbs the bad energy of new year. On the climax of the ceremony, the structure is burnt and the giant flames light the sky.
During this festival, traditional music performance is held such as Samulnori, a genre of traditional percussion music.

Spring

Nakdonggang Youchae Flower Festival

The Nakdonggang Youchae Festival is an annual event held during mid to late April in a yuchaekkot (canola flower) field, spanning over an area of 76,0000㎡ in the Daejeo Ecological park, the largest scale of Youchae flower area in Korea. The festival opens with a traditional ceremony for the dragon king of the sea performed for the well-being and prosperity of the village. Various events will take place during the festival,such as singing contest, musical performances and sports events and much more.

– Address : 2314-11, Daejeo 1-dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan, Korea

부산광역시 강서구 대저1동 2314-11)

Busan International Performing Arts Festival(BIPAF)

Inspiring the cultural pride of Busan citizens through the performing arts
Busan International Performing Arts Festival aims to inspire Busan citizens’ cultural pride through holding excellent Eastern and Western performances and cultural events and offer entertainment by specialized citizen participation programs. In addition, we intend to experience the flow of performing arts first hand and introduce Busan as a city of international cultural exchange to the whole world.

Busan Lotus Lantern Festival

The Busan Lotus Lantern Festival is an annual tradition that provides visitors with an opportunity to experience Buddhist culture through the many activities being offered. To celebrate Buddha’s birthday, splendid lotus lanterns in different shapes and sizes will be on display.

Around 1,700 temples, groups, and related organizations prepare diverse programs such as making lotus lanterns, sharing traditional tea, eating temple food, and celebratory performances. We strongly recommend you to visit Beomeosa, one of the country’s most known urban temples with 1,300 years history. You can experience time travel if you visit this temple during the festival because it keeps own antique atmosphere with lotus lantern.

– Venue : Beomeosa temple

– Address : 250 Beomeosa-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan

Busan Port Festival

Busan Port Festival has been held annually since 2008 to introduce one of the five top ports in the word, Busan Port, and offer a variety of programs, combined with Busan port-related industry, culture and education.

Nearly 30 programs are planned for visitors of families, friends, and couples alike. One of the outstanding programs featured at the festival is the Busan Port Tour, in which visitors get on a ship to see North Port. Another popular program is the Embarkment Experience that displays a naval vessel and marine police vessel, both of which are rare to see. Busan Port Parade offers a dynamic performance and music, and Busan Port Stamp Tour is available to enjoy various exhibitions and hands-on programs at the National Maritime Museum and other festival facilities.

Joseon Tongsinsa Festival

TheJoseon Tongsinsawere goodwill missions sent intermittently, at the request of the resident Japanese authority, by Joseon Dynasty Korea to Japan. The Korean noun identifies a specific type of diplomatic delegation and its chief envoys. The envoys of the Joseon Tongsinsa went on a voyage of peace and exchange with Japanese neighbors

Today, this festival is marked by the Joseon Tongsinsa International Culture Exchange Project. As well as reviving the Joseon Tongsinsa Parade, the exchange project will host the “I Love Busan” parade and a special welcome parade of Japanese artists.

Summer

Taejongdae Hydrangea Festival

Taejongdae Hydrangea Festival takes place every year at Taejongsa Temple, which is inside of Taejongdae Park in the southern part of Busan. The festival usually runs through the first week of July. Even though the festival is over, the blooms seemed to be in good shape so you can probably still check them out for the next week or so. This would be definitely one of your favorite festivals in Korea because it’s almost impossible to capture the full beauty of this festival before you see it on the spot.

– Venue : Taejongdae

– Address: 257, Jeonmang-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan부산광역시 영도구 전망로 24

– How to go : The walk to the temple takes 30-45 minutes or you can take a Danubi tram for a small fee.

Busan International Motor Show

The theme for the event is “Inspiring Technology Making Waves in the Future” and will be held from June 2-12, 2016. More than 2,800 booths operated by 180 automobile companies from 11 countries will be featured at the event.

Haeundae Sand Festival

This festival takes place at Busan’s beautiful Haeundae Beach, an extremely popular summer vacation spot. The festival’s program is full of events inspired by the beach’s beautiful white sand. The festival centers on beach-inspired activities including hot sand baths, beach volleyball, a marathon race and an exhibit of sands from around the world. At night, the entertainment continues with live music and performances as well as a spectacular fireworks display.

Busan International Rock Festival

Busan International Rock Festival is a leading music festival in Korea, representing the openness and youth of the coastal city of Busan. The festival is organized with the goals of discovering new musical talent, revitalizing the music industry, and celebrating indie bands.

Along with the international film festival in October, the Busan International Rock Festival has played a vital role in promoting the artistic affluence of Busan, the largest port city in South Korea. The festival is widely recognized as strengthening ties between renowned musicians worldwide. This fun event is a must-see for any rock music lover in Korea.

Busan Sea Festival

The festival offers various cultural events and unique hands-on programs. As Korea’s first general ocean festival, it puts on many exciting programs including a great opening ceremony, cultural performances, and other special events. With a total of 6 beaches holding the event, each beach has different programs and performances for all ages.

Autumn

Busan Biennale 2016

The Busan Biennale is an arts festival that integrates three different festivals held in the city: Busan Youth Biennale, Busan Sea Arts Festival and Busan Outdoor Sculpture Symposium and was originally formed as a voluntary culture event. The festival serves as an arena where locals can mingle with people from other countries and communicate with each other.

It is intended to present contemporary art in a more accessible way through its interpretation to the general public. The main notions that the Busan Biennale represents are locality, internationality and communicability through reflecting on the local lives and culture which feed into the Biennale.

Busan One Asia Festival

The 2016 Busan One Asia Festival will feature performances, autograph sessions, exhibitions and a beauty expo of Hallyu stars. The city hopes to attract over 150,000 Hallyu tourists from Asia and worldwide with its wide variety of cultural and Hallyu events. Asia Song Festival with various K-pop stars and EDM performance will be held.

Busan International Film Festival

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. It started as Korea’s first international film festival in 1996. Dynamic film festival focusing on discovering promising film directors in Asia and sharing outstanding Korean and Asian films. The festival contributes to making the city of Busan a mecca for movie buffs and the hub of the visual culture industry.

Leading Asian film industry as Asia’s largest and internationally acknowledged film festival, Busan International Film Festival is growing fast to become comparable to other world-renowned film festivals.

If you want to watch Asian Film, we strongly recommend you to join this festival !

Busan Fireworks Festival

The Busan Fireworks Festival takes place every October along Gwangalli Beach. The festival’s diverse programs of cultural events, high-tech laser light shows, and a myriad of unique and colorful fireworks make this one of the area’s most popular festivals, drawing crowds of over 1 million visitors each year. Though most people flock to the beach for a closer view of the festivities, nearby Hwangnyeongsan Mountain also offers a great view of the fireworks.

Busan Sea International Marathon

Busan Sea International Marathon offers the opportunity to run or walk on the beach amid fresh sea breezes and Diamond bridge where you cannot walk normally except for this event — a distinctive experience that is sure to create special memories.

Half marathon (21.1 km; 13.1 mi), 10 km (6.2 mi) and 5 km (3.1 mi) courses are available, all of which go across Gwangan Bridge, over Dongbaekseom Island and past the Busan Civil Art Museum, all of which are major Busan tourism sites. In this year, Busan opens new course(25 km) which connects 3 major bridges in Busan, Gwangan Bridge, Busan Port Bridge and South Port Bridge. We are sure that this course will you give freshness because you will run 16km on the bridges with watching the beautiful natural beauty of the sea.

– Website : http://marathon.busan.com/(Eng)

Again Winter 🙂

Global Game Exhibition G-star 2016

G-Star, South Korea’s biggest game trade show, is organized by Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism (MCST) and the Busan Metropolitan City. The show serves the businesses’ and public’s needs for the companies publishing interactive games for PC/ online, mobile, video games console, arcade and game-related products. You can experience future technology in the game industry and how passionate Korean are about e-sports and how quickly respond to a new trend.

– Website : http://www.gstar.or.kr/

– Venue : Bexco

Busan Christmas Tree Festival

The Busan Christmas Tree Festival will illuminate multiple locations in Busan, celebrating this year’s Christmas and the start of a new year. Holiday ornaments will be set up in the major tourist areas in Busan, including Busan Station, Gwangbok-ro streets and more places for about 2 months. The highlight to remember will be a 1.2km stretch of promenade connecting Gwangbok-ro to Gukje Market. An artificial snow show lasting for 10 minutes at 7pm and 8pm each day will add to the Christmas atmosphere.

New Year’s Bell-Tolling Ceremony

Tens of thousands of people flock to Yongdusan Mountain Park, where they count down to the start of the New Year. Korea has bell-ringing ceremonies in different parts of the peninsula. While Seoul hosts the Bosingak Bell Ringing Ceremony in Jongno, Busan has its own version at Yongdusan Mountain Park.
The event starts at 11 p.m. and features musical performances, bell-ringing, a fireworks festival and a New Year’s address. The energy is then kicked up a notch with performances by a chorus and various musical acts in the lead-up to midnight. Visitors can also take commemorative pictures in every corner of the park, dotted with beautiful light installations.
The highlight of the program, the bell-ringing ceremony, begins with a vigorous countdown 10 seconds before midnight.
Every New Year’s Eve, designated dignitaries from across society ring the bell 33 times. The bell is struck 11 times each time, for three rounds, to symbolize hope, love and peace. Afterward, colorful fireworks crisscross the night skies to top off the celebration.

– Website : festival.busan.kr/ENG

– Venue : Yongdusan Park

– Address : Dadae-dong, Saha-gu, Busan-si
부산광역시 중구 용두산길 35-18 (광복동2가)

How To Make Your Reservations

Kindly note that we only accept reservations on our website. Please go to the particular product page to book right way!

Also, please kindly note that heavy traffic condition will happen during these festivals period. When you make your itinerary, please avoid rush hour(7:00-9:00/17:00-19:00) to make convenient and safe trip after considering the festival zone and time 🙂